Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute

What Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute does

The Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GCFI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1947 and headquartered in Marathon, Florida (USA), that operates as the principal regional knowledge-exchange platform for sustainable marine fisheries management across the Gulf of Mexico and Wider Caribbean. GCFI convenes an annual conference series—now in its 79th iteration, with GCFI78 in Cartagena (October 2025) drawing 282 attendees from 40+ countries and GCFI79 scheduled for Curaçao in November 2026—and maintains a searchable proceedings archive dating to 1948 along with free member access to the peer-reviewed Gulf and Caribbean Research journal via a partnership with the University of Southern Mississippi.

The Institute's programmatic portfolio includes CaMPAM (Caribbean Marine Protected Areas Managers Network and Forum), MPAConnect (capacity building with NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program), the Fisheries for Fishers Initiative, the GPML-Caribe node of the Global Partnership on Marine Litter, and an Education Initiative spanning student awards, scholarships, and small grants. Five moderated LISTSERV distribution lists (GCFINet, CaMPAM-L, STROMBUS-L, GPML-Carib, FISHSPAWN-L) and a multilingual website (English, Spanish, French, Dutch) provide real-time information exchange. Technology is informational rather than product-based, with no proprietary software, AI/ML, or API surface disclosed.

GCFI's revenue model combines annual conference registration fees, recurring membership dues (Subscriber free, Regular $50/yr, Student $35/yr, Corporate on request), donations, and multi-donor grant funding from UNEP, NOAA, CLME+ (GEF/UNDP/UNESCO), Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Caribbean Biodiversity Fund, and corporate sponsors. Its customer base spans marine scientists and researchers, fisheries managers and policymakers, commercial and artisanal fishers, students and early-career professionals, and marine protected area managers—engaged primarily through the annual conference and membership program.

Name

Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute

Legal name

Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute

Website

https://gcfi.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1947

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GCFI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1947, based in Marathon, FL, that operates as a regional knowledge-exchange platform for sustainable marine fisheries management across the Gulf of Mexico and Wider Caribbean, serving scientists, fishers, policymakers, students, and resource managers through its annual conference, peer-reviewed publications, and capacity-building programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Charleston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Annual Conference Registration: Revenue generated through conference registration fees for the annual GCFI meetings
2. Membership Fees: Annual membership dues provide access to conference discounts, publications including Gulf and Caribbean Research journal, and other member benefits. Tiers include Subscriber (free), Regular ($50/year), and Student ($35/year). Corporate memberships also available.
3. Donations: GCFI accepts donations to support scientific exchange, capacity building for early-career professionals, and knowledge sharing initiatives

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

GCFI is a non-profit professional association that convenes marine scientists, fisheries managers, commercial fishers, policymakers, students, and conservation practitioners in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean region through an annual scientific conference, peer-reviewed publications, email distribution lists, and capacity building networks such as CaMPAM and MPAConnect. The Institute facilitates interdisciplinary information exchange on marine resource management via memberships, special reports, webinars, and grants programs.

Product overview

The Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GCFI) operates as a non-profit membership organization rather than a traditional product company. Its portfolio consists primarily of programs and services centered on its annual conference (the GCFI79, GCFI78, etc.), peer-reviewed publications through the GCFI Proceedings archive, and multiple regional initiatives including CaMPAM, MPAConnect, Fisheries for Fishers, Education Initiative, and GPML-Caribe. The organization also provides communication platforms through email distribution lists, awards programs (Gladding Memorial Award, Student Awards), webinars, and the Small Grants Program. These components work together to advance sustainable fisheries management, marine conservation, and capacity building across the Gulf of Mexico and Wider Caribbean region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CaMPAM: Caribbean Marine Protected Areas Managers Network and Forum
• MPAConnect
• GPML-Caribe
• Fisheries for Fishers Initiative
• GCFI Women in Ocean Science

Products and services

• GCFI Annual Conference
• GCFI Membership Program
• GCFI Proceedings Archive
• CaMPAM (Caribbean Marine Protected Area Managers Network and Forum)
• MPAConnect
• GPML-Caribe (Global Partnership for Marine Litter - Caribbean)
• Fisheries for Fishers Initiative
• GCFI Education Initiative
• GCFI Special Reports
• GCFI Webinars
• Lionfish Portal
• GCFI Email Distribution Lists

Quantifiable outcome

• 282 attendees from 40+ countries at GCFI78 conference
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of Southern MississippicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1947Partnership initiated in 2017 providing all GCFI members in good standing with free access to the peer-reviewed Gulf and Caribbean Research (GCR) journal
• UNEP Caribbean Environment ProgrammecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership on CaMPAM (Caribbean Marine Protected Areas Managers Network and Forum), marine litter initiatives through GPML-Caribe, and SPAW Protocol activities
• NOAA Coral Reef Conservation ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on MPAConnect capacity building program including peer-to-peer workshops, sustainable financing, enforcement, management planning, communications, and monitoring for Caribbean MPAs
• NOAA Office of Law EnforcementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on IUU fishing enforcement workshops and case package preparation for fisheries prosecution in the Caribbean region
• Caribbean Cetacean SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of GCFI79 conference in Curaçao and partner on Calypso Project Expedition across the Caribbean
• IOCARIBE (UNESCO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on ocean science initiatives and GCFI conference programming
• NOAA Caribbean Fisheries Management CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on STROMBUS-L email list for Strombus gigas (queen conch) management, science, and CITES issues
• Government of CuraçaocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost of GCFI79 annual conference in Curaçao (November 2026), with collaboration through Prime Minister's office
• Federashon Kooperativanan Uní di Produkshon (FKUP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal host organization for GCFI79 conference in Curaçao
• Fundashon Ekonomia Sosial Kòrsou (FESK)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal host organization for GCFI79 conference in Curaçao
• Piskabon BonaireminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal host organization for GCFI79 conference in Curaçao
• Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost institution for GCFI headquarters and ongoing collaboration on fisheries research
• Gulf and Caribbean ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPeer-reviewed journal published by University of Southern Mississippi with free access for GCFI members
• AGRRAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaunched Caribbean Coral Disease Dashboard in partnership with MPAConnect
• Toledo Institute for Development and Environment (TIDE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-manager of Port Honduras Marine Reserve in Belize; partner on sustainable financing workshops
• Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional fisheries organization; partner on Professional Development Program

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• World Wildlife Fund: WWF is a global conservation non-profit with major marine programs operating across the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, partnering with governments, fishers, and scientists on fisheries and MPA initiatives. Comparable to GCFI in mission and regional stakeholder engagement, but at vastly larger scale and programmatic footprint.
• Oceana: Oceana is the largest international advocacy organization focused exclusively on ocean conservation, running campaigns on fisheries, marine protected areas, and bycatch. Comparable to GCFI in mission and stakeholder engagement, but at much larger scale and primarily through advocacy rather than convening.
• Conservation International: Conservation International is a global non-profit working on marine and terrestrial conservation, with active Caribbean fisheries and MPA engagements through science, financing, and policy. Comparable to GCFI in mission, science-to-policy bridge role, and international partnership network.
• Environmental Defense Fund: EDF is a major environmental non-profit with significant fisheries and oceans programs applying science-based advocacy and working with fishing communities. Comparable to GCFI in stakeholder mix (scientists, fishers, managers) and sustainability mission, though EDF operates more through advocacy and policy work.
• The Nature Conservancy: TNC is a large conservation non-profit with active Caribbean and Gulf fisheries work, MPA financing initiatives, and science-based management programs. Comparable to GCFI in mission and regional scope, though with a much broader portfolio spanning terrestrial and marine conservation globally.

Emerging players

• Rare: Rare is a conservation non-profit specializing in behavior-change campaigns for fisheries and coastal communities, with active Caribbean programs including fishers' forums. Comparable to GCFI in mission and target audience, though Rare's methodology is more focused on campaign-style social marketing rather than scientific convening.

Direct peers

• American Fisheries Society: AFS is the largest professional fisheries society in North America, structured as a membership organization that runs annual meetings, publishes peer-reviewed journals, and convenes scientists, managers, and policymakers. It is directly comparable to GCFI as a professional fisheries membership body, though with a primarily North American rather than Caribbean focus.
• World Aquaculture Society: WAS is a professional society for the global aquaculture community, organizing international conferences, publishing peer-reviewed work, and serving an overlapping audience of marine scientists and resource managers. Comparable to GCFI as a professional membership organization running flagship international events in the marine/fisheries space.
• International Union for Conservation of Nature: IUCN is a global membership-based union of governmental and civil society organizations producing scientific assessment, convening international conservation congresses, and operating across marine and terrestrial species. Comparable to GCFI in convening scientists, managers, and policymakers under a neutral global platform with regional programs.
• Marine Stewardship Council: MSC is a non-profit that sets standards for sustainable fishing and seafood traceability, working closely with regional fisheries bodies, scientists, and commercial fishers. Comparable to GCFI in mission (sustainable fisheries), stakeholder mix, and reliance on regional convening and partnerships with international bodies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/gcfi_fisheries
• Facebookfacebook.com/gcfi.fisheries
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gulf-and-caribbean-fisheries-institute-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute